Improving Blood-Compatibility of Polymeric Surfaces

Denis Labarre

Abstract

Biocompatibility has been defined by consensus, but not blood-compatibility. The interactions between blood and a surface depend on the blood composition, the blood flow and the surface of the material defined by its physicochemical features. Blood response is sensitive to surface features such as surface area, crystallinity, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, outermost structure and surface chemistry. Material surfaces are not blood-compatible, resulting in triggering of the non-specific self-protection mechanisms of blood. Improving blood-compatibility of polymeric surfaces requires that the surfaces are able to delay, or to control locally the biochemical events implied in these responses. Strategies such as the "repelling brush" or the heparinised and heparin-like surfaces are currently developed to improve blood-compatibility of polymeric surfaces.